7 dos and 7 don’ts for a first date as an older adult

6. PICK THE PROPER VENUE. Dating experts advise planning an active first date, such as a walk through the park or a round of mini-golf. “It makes conversations easier because there may be a

crazy squirrel or saxophonist that sparks a conversation,” Gandhi says. Steve Holt, 66, an entrepreneur in Sandpoint, Idaho, likes to take a walk, grab a cup of coffee or share a glass of

wine on a first date. “You want to have a date that makes room for conversation,” he adds. “Skiing, for example, you can’t really talk to each other.” 7. AGREE WHO PAYS AT THE BEGINNING.

People have differing opinions on who should pay for a first date — or maybe you'd rather split the bill. Prevent awkwardness when the check arrives (which also sets the tone for the

end of the date) by agreeing on the payment terms before or at the very start of a date, advises the dating website eHarmony. WHAT TO AVOID ON A FIRST DATE 1. DON’T GREET YOUR DATE WITH A

HANDSHAKE. Hug instead, Gandhi suggests. “It shows that you’re warm and comfortable,” she says. “It’s not a business meeting.” 2. DON’T BRING BAGGAGE. Avoid long conversations about your

terrible divorce or grief over a partner’s passing, especially on a first date, Wood says. Don’t compare your dates to previous partners. On a personal level, “don’t use your past experience

as a meter for the future,” she says. 3. DON’T CREATE OBSTACLES. Keep an open mind. Don’t limit yourself to only wanting to date tall people or people who live in the same city. “A person

might not be exactly what you imagined, but if the values line up, be open to it,” Wood says. “It’s about giving people a chance.” Tracey Altman of Wilmington, North Carolina, has learned to

be open to new ideas in the several years she’s been dating since her 2016 divorce. “One guy took me skeet shooting,” says the 57-year-old. “I said, ‘I don’t really think that’s my cup of

tea.’ But I loved it.” 4. DON’T GET DISTRACTED. That means keeping your phone out of sight — and maybe even turned off. The dating service It’s Just Lunch says first dates should be

considered “no phone zones.”